Use of dust storm observations on satellite images to identify areas vulnerable to severe wind erosion

Climatic Change
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Abstract

Blowing dust is symptomatic of severe wind erosion and deterioration of soils in areas undergoing dessication and/or devegetation. Dust plumes on satellite images can commonly be traced to sources in marginally arable semiarid areas where protective lag gravels or vegetation have been removed and soils are dry, as demonstrated for the Portales Valley, New Mexico. Images from Landsat and manned orbiters such as Skylab and the Space Shuttle are useful for illustrating the regional relations of airborne dust plumes to source areas. Geostationary satellites such as GOES are useful in tracking the time-histories of episodic dust storms. These events sometimes go unrecognized by weather observers and are the precursors of long-term land degradation trends. In areas where soil maps and meteorological data are inadequate, satellite images provide a means for identifying problem areas where measures are needed to control or mitigate wind erosion. ?? 1986 D. Reidel Publishing Company.
Publication type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Title Use of dust storm observations on satellite images to identify areas vulnerable to severe wind erosion
Series title Climatic Change
DOI 10.1007/BF00140539
Volume 9
Issue 1-2
Year Published 1986
Language English
Publisher location Kluwer Academic Publishers
Larger Work Type Article
Larger Work Subtype Journal Article
Larger Work Title Climatic Change
First page 243
Last page 258
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